24 JUNE 1960, Page 13

SIR,—In your issue of June 10 you quote two state-

ments about Gladstone and Disraeli, and ask what makes the quotations so essentially different.

One answer is that one of the statements is true and the other untrue. In March, 1883, Lord Beaconsfield was not 'nearing the end of his fabu- lous life.' He had been nearly two years in his grave. —Yours faithfully,

A. A. MARTINEAU

The Athemeum, Pall Mall, SWI

[We must apologise for repeating the error made by the National and English Review without check- ing it first. But de mortals nil nisi bonum.—Editor, Spectator.]